The future of Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival is still very much in safe hands, despite the popular illuminated carnival procession being cancelled for the past two years.

As with many other events all around the world, the Covid-19 Pandemic has meant Bridgwater Carnival as we know it has not been seen on the streets of Bridgwater since November 2019. However this has not deterred the enthusiasm and interest of local school children in the town’s carnival tradition and back in November, 16 local schools took part in a Bridgwater Carnival education project and competition, which saw children deploy a variety of techniques to decorate large Venetian style carnival masks on the specified theme of ‘The Future’. These masks were then positioned around the town to create a trail, and during the Sedgemoor Masquerade Week in early November, members of the public could take part in a special competition to locate all 21 masks and be entered into a prize draw.

The schools and nurseries who took part in the project and decorated the masks were:
Somerset Bridge Primary School, Northgate Primary School, St Mary’s Primary School, Willowdown Primary School, St John and St Francis Primary School, Brent Knoll Primary School, Pawlett Primary School, Cannington Primary School, Stogursey Primary School, Otterhampton Primary School, North Petherton Primary School, Puriton Primary School, Bridgwater College Academy Primary School, Martock Primary School, Little Crickets Nursery, and Haygrove Secondary School.

While the masks were on display around the town centre, a special team of judges had the difficult job of choosing their favourite three. We can now exclusively reveal Pawlett Primary School was the overall winner of the prestigious competition and receives £150 prize money. Somerset Bridge Primary School was second and wins £100, and Willowdown Primary School picks up £50 for taking the third spot.

Sarah Humphrey, Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival’s Entertainment and Schools Liaison Officer, said: “Once again the children have designed some absolutely wonderful mask creations, and I am extremely grateful to all the participating schools and nurseries for continuing to support and engage with our carnival education programme.

“The children are the carnivalites of the future and they will be the ones who will hopefully maintain our carnival tradition for their children and their children’s children. We hope that their involvement in these types of projects will enthuse and inspire them to become involved in carnival in the future.”

The winner of the mask trail prize draw and who wins a £25 gift/book token is Monty Joseph from North Petherton.

The Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival Procession returns on Saturday 5 November 2022, 6pm start.

For all of the latest Bridgwater Carnival news, visit www.bridgwatercarnival.org.uk